There ARE some retailers who are peeping out from under the Decession

Rick Smith / APA worker at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., keeps an eye on the Marshmallow Peeps that pass by on the conveyor belt after being made on April 2, 2003.

SYRACUSE, NY -- This one popped, or peeped, out of nowhere. Interesting. Can't see a chain of 'em, but then, Peeps aren't my thing. And maybe people said the same thing about Auntie Ann's pretzels back in the day. Read on...

From Chain Store Age:

Peeps Store Coming To National Harbor, Md.

Bethlehem, Pa. -- Just Born, maker of Peeps and other candies, will open its first retail store, Peeps & Company, at National Harbor, in Prince George's Country, Md., just minutes outside of Washington, D.C.

In addition to marshmallow Peeps and the company's other sweet treats, the store will sell branded clothing, gear, toys and gift items.

"For years, we have seen tremendous growth and excitement in our brands, and received many requests for a store in just the right location. In an extensive search, assisted by Cooper Retail Consulting, we selected National Harbor which promises to meet all of our needs," said David Shaffer and Ross Born, co-CEOs of Just Born, Bethlehem, Pa.

Peeps & Company will be designed by the Chicago office of RTKL Associates.

National Harbor is a 300-acre, mixed-used development on the banks of the Potomac River that features five hotels (including the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the largest such facility on the East Coast), residential units, tree-lined promenades with shops, restaurants and offices, and a marina. The developer, The Peterson Cos., recently announced the sale of a 15-acre site to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Hmm. This National Harbor seems really intriguing. We have a harborfront, an inner harbor... Nah. Who'd develop a major destination center there? On to...

You:

* newtosu comments, "I agree about the need for a properly executed local 'lifestyle center' and I think Macerich really missed the boat on ShoppingTown. There are many local shoppers who become LESS inclined to go to a mall when it gets bigger and bigger. ShoppingTown -- at least as I see it -- is in a much more convenient location for a larger population than is Fayetteville's Towne Center, yet Towne Center is always busy and bursting at the seams already.

"Bob -- can you clear something up for us? (if you know the answer):

"Was the CCM expansion originally intended for a mix of traditional retail and landlord owned/operated dining and entertainment (a la Downtown Disney) or was the Arendi 'living lab' concept a significant focus from the get-go? To the casual observer, the Arendi concept seems like some serious back-pedaling to have a plausible purpose for the structure but there are so many conflicting opinions and lack of publicly available facts that I don't like to assume anything about this.

"As for the giant parking lots.... they need to get some tenants in there.... execute eminent domain on the Hess station.... close Hiawatha.... and get it looking like a real destination. For many of us who visit there regularly (I go to the movies at CCM at least 3X per month) it will help assuage our feelings of sadness and disappointment when we drive by The Hulk."

They built that ghost ship without any tenants, then went looking for tenants, then dreamed up the Italian section, then Arendi, then... Yeah, backpedaling is a good word. But who knows? In better times, building a huge addition then seeking tenants might have worked. No one predicted a recession of this magnitude as the Carousel expansion began being built.

* Lakermantoo comments, "How come doesn't Pizza Hut do something with their ratty old Erie Boulevard location? It is so old and tired looking with it's outdated 'red roof' look.

"Cicero and Watertown have their fancy new Bistro/Wingstreet concept buildings, so why not do a DeWitt makeover? With all the properties available along the Boulevard, they should have no trouble finding a good location. They could go across the street or even put it next door next to Texas Roadhouse. What's the scoop on this Bob? Retiring minds want to know."

You got a big ol' shrug coming your way, Lakermantoo. This has long perplexed me; Watertown has landed a few things before the Syracuse market. And I keep hearing from developers that so many restaurant chains are dying to get into DeWitt. I don't know why Pizza Hut hasn't done a re-do. Maybe because the chain seems to morph in and out of different concepts.

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